Geno Smith, Jets rally to stun Patriots in OT, 30-27

Oct. 20, 2013
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New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) runs for a touchdown during the second half of their game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Oct. 20, 2013. / Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - New York Jets quarterbacks coach David Lee had a pregame premonition Sunday:

Geno Smith would need to make two big plays with his legs to beat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Sure enough, Smith made those big plays - including an 8-yard scramble for a third-quarter touchdown.

It helped that kicker Nick Folk was given new life on a controversial 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty after he missed a 56-yard field goal attempt in overtime. Folk delivered four plays later on a 42-yard attempt to cap an unlikely 30-27 victory.

Folk's second chance came courtesy of Patriots defensive tackle Chris Jones, who was called for an illegal push of teammate Will Svitek into Jets guard Damon Harrison. The penalty was a result of a new rule in 2013 designed to protect offensive linemen on field goal attempts.

In his seventh career start, Smith was resilient enough to upstage Brady, the longtime tormentor of the AFC East who had beaten New York five consecutive times. Smith showed his selective amnesia by shrugging off an interception by Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan that Ryan returned 79 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Overall, Smith hit 17 of 33 passes for 233 yards a TD and added six rushes for 32 yards and another score.

Allen's interception ignited a 17-point rally after the Jets entered halftime down 21-10.

On the Jets' next possession, Smith had two key runs - a diving, 14-yard gain for a first down on third-and-14 from the New England 24-yard line and his 8-yard score two plays later that put the Jets up 24-21.

"Coach Lee may have a good job being a psychic, because he did tell me that - he was 100% right," Smith said. "I know my own demeanor. I'm never going to crumble."

Jets newcomer Josh Cribbs, who played quarterback at Kent State before carving his niche as a three-time Pro Bowl returner with the Cleveland Browns, praised Smith's unflappable composure.

"We took the almighty New England Patriots all the way to overtime," Cribbs said. "When it seemed like they had the better quarterback ... Geno came to play."

And the Jets defense responded to a challenge coach Rex Ryan made Saturday night.

The fourth-ranked unit had generated three turnovers entering the game. But it came up with Allen's pick-six and sacked Brady four times.

"Rex challenged us, saying, 'Let's get after him so much this time we drive him crazy,'" rookie defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson told USA TODAY Sports.

Smith's numbers on the season - eight touchdown passes, 11 interceptions - epitomize the roller-coaster Jets. He has thrown for seven TDs and four interceptions in their four wins and one TD and seven picks in their three losses.

But Smith took down the AFC East bully, Brady, who had an 18-4 record vs. the Jets before Smith turned Lee into a prophet.